NEPSAC Information

As we do in all things, this decision was made through the lens of mission.  The philosophy and culture of NEPSAC schools is aligned with Austin Prep’s mission and work to prepare students for college and beyond.  The decision to join NEPSAC was a strategic decision to sustain Austin Prep’s commitment to providing a quality education and the best experiences for our students in a highly competitive private school landscape. Membership in the NEPSAC provides Austin Prep with the flexibility it needs to innovate, and attract and retain talented students. 

The NEPSAC governing board recently approved Austin Prep application, which coincided well with plans for the next academic year.  Announcing the decision now provides families with an opportunity to make informed decisions about the opportunities at Austin Prep for next year.

Austin Prep’s decision to apply for membership in the NEPSAC has been part of a long-term strategic conversation for more than two years.  In that time, we reviewed trends in the independent school marketplace, including data on demographics, enrollment, attrition, and athletics.  To receive perspective and feedback from Austin Prep constituencies, we conducted focus groups with parents, students, coaches, and alumni.  We also sought feedback from leaders in both private school and public schools.  Using both quantitative and qualitative data, we concluded joining the NEPSAC was in the best interest of Austin Prep’s long term growth and success.

Although this is a different league structure for our athletics program, it is not anticipated to have any significant impact. Austin Prep routinely engages in both short-term and long-term financial planning.  This best practice enables us to identify priorities, anticipate needs, and adapt accordingly.  Austin Prep has a long history of strongly educating the whole child, which specifically includes robust academic and co-curricular experiences.  Budgetary allocations will continue to reflect these priorities and continue our work to minimize the impact on tuition.  

Membership in the NEPSAC provides Austin Prep with the flexibility it needs to innovate and attract and retain talented students.  The long term success and financial health of Austin Prep enables us to reinvest in ourselves and continue to create new opportunities for students in academics, arts, athletics, and other activities. 

No.  Austin Prep has no plans to dramatically raise tuition.  Though many schools in the NEPSAC have a higher price point than Austin Prep, tuition has no correlation to NEPSAC membership.  Healthy philanthropy is critical to the continued growth of Austin Prep.  Because of sustained growth of philanthropic support from the Austin Prep community, tuition increases have been mitigated while investments in educational programming and facilities exceeded projected goals.

Austin Prep will begin competing within the NEPSAC in Fall of 2022.

Membership in the NEPSAC will not have any short-term impact on the competitiveness to make an Austin Prep team.  As we have for many years, Austin Prep will continue to offer at least one no-cut sport each athletic season. Additionally, we will maintain as many levels (varsity, junior varsity, freshman, middle school) as interest allows, specific to each sport. 

By joining the NEPSAC, which is regional rather than state based, Austin Prep varsity teams will compete for New England Championships and various other regional tournament titles. 

NEPSAC is known for strong athletics across many sports, and Austin Prep has built a solid foundation for our program.  From 2018 to 2020, Austin Prep was recognized with the Boston Globe Nason Award for achieving the highest collective winning percentage among Catholic co-educational schools in Massachusetts.  We believe we are well-positioned for continued success in the NEPSAC. 

Austin Prep is eager to build relationships with many schools both throughout New England and regionally.  Locally, we will look to compete with schools such as Pingree, Brooks, Governor’s, Belmont Hill, Beaver Country Day, Lexington Christian, Pike School, Berwick Academy, and Dexter Southfield School.

During our first year of membership, Austin Prep will not be part of a specific NEPSAC league.  Austin Prep’s boys and girls athletic teams will compete against schools from several leagues within the NEPSAC which enables us to assess which league is the best fit for Austin Prep.

Participation in athletics at Austin Prep will remain optional.

The NEPSAC has approximately 200 member schools. 

Austin Prep’s academic calendar for 2022-2023 will roughly reflect the current 2021-2022 academic calendar.  The final calendar for 2022-2023 will be released in February 2022, as it is each year.  We are currently assessing what the calendar might look like for 2023-2024 and beyond.